2024 Paris Olympics: Obiri and Lokedi to Face Stiff Marathon Competition

Kenya’s marathon representatives, Hellen Obiri and Sharon Lokedi, are set to face formidable competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Lokedi, a New York Marathon champion, and Obiri, a two-time world 5000m champion and Olympic silver medallist, carry high hopes for gold.

Obiri, who won the Boston Marathon on her debut and defended her title this year, will be a key contender. However, Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa, who set a world record of 2:11:53 at the Berlin Marathon, poses a significant threat.

Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands, the current Olympic 5000m and 10,000m champion, also stands out after winning the 2023 London Marathon and recording the second-best time ever in Chicago. Peres Jepchirchir, another strong contender, won the London Marathon with a women-only world record.

Other notable competitors include Bahrain’s Rose Chelimo and Eunice Chumba, the USA’s Fiona O’Keeffe, Japan’s Honami Maeda, Morocco’s Fatima Gardadi, and Tanzania’s Magdalena Shauri. These athletes will provide a strong challenge to the Kenyan duo as they vie for Olympic glory.